Reliable power has also nurtured a diverse local business ecosystem. Annual tourism revenue reached 35 million yuan last year, a figure unthinkable when power shortages held the village back. Peak-season homestay occupancy regularly tops 90 percent, according to local officials.

State Grid said this electric transformation is in line with the Chinese government's concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".

The power company has assigned dedicated "electricity butlers" to the area, providing 24/7 real-time grid monitoring and uninterrupted power supply. "Load patterns in ordinary rural areas are steady, but Xijingyu is completely different — weekend and holiday demand can double or triple, with extra peaks during heat waves and cold snaps," said Xin Wenxuan, team leader of Grid Team No 3 at the urban power supply service center of State Grid Tianjin Jizhou Power Supply Co.

"We run a one-village-one-manager system, conduct pre-peak inspections ahead of busy seasons, and our Party member service team stays on-site during public holidays. We can respond to most faults within half an hour. Our job is not just to keep the power on — it's to keep it reliable without disrupting the visitor experience," Xin said.

Xijingyu is one of hundreds of villages across Tianjin benefiting from the municipality's rural grid modernization drive. Citywide, the program has lifted rural power supply reliability to more than 99.9 percent, building a largely integrated urban-rural power network.

The coal-to-electricity scheme cuts annual scattered coal consumption by 758,000 metric tons, contributing to the city's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. It also aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which calls for universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy.

Liu Zixuan contributed to this story.

yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn